Early Voting Starts Today - Who I'm Voting For and Why
Early voting starts today and sadly, even though most of my readers are politically minded, most of you will not vote. If you don't, you suck.
Here is a list of people I'm supporting. You are free to vote for who you wish. I'm just telling you who I've voting for and what my reasons for supporting them are.
Judicial Races - Honestly, I'm undecided in a couple of them.
8th Court of Appeals - I'm still undecided. This race features Yvonne Rodriguez and Marcos Lizarraga. Both nice people. I know them both. I voted for Stanton because I felt he was the more qualified candidate in the primary. Still haven't made up my mind between the two.
448th District Court - Regina Arditti and Sergio Enriquez. Undecided. Sergio Enriquez really hasn't campaigned at all so I sort of want to vote for Arditti just because he didn't freakin' try.
41st District Court - I'm voting for Anna Perez. I think she's the most qualified candidate and she's clearly the only candidate that has paid her dues within the El Paso Democratic Party. I hate Johnny-Come-Lately's that are never around when the real work to be done is going on but show up at election time and all of a sudden they are Democrats. Integrity matters. Someone who is willing to be a party of the Party all the time, not just during election time shows what their values and beliefs are. I have nothing against Mr. Cervantes, but I just don't think he stacks up. Especially given the fact that I'm about to set the record straight on most of the allegations he lays out in his negative mailer. If he can't get those facts right, as a voter, it gives me reason to question his decision-making.
388th - Full disclosure, Laura Strathmann is my attorney. I chose her for a reason. She has my vote.
Criminal District Court Number 1 - This one is a slam dunk. Diana Navarrete is my choice. In my opinion, Caballero is not a good choice for a judicial candidate. And I'm not the only one that thinks that way. The El Paso Times wrote about Caballero, "Theresa Caballero, has a history of showing disrespect for the rule of law and there is a question if this defense attorney could ever be neutral. It would be dangerous to have Caballero on the bench."
I have to agree.
In my opinion, I think her judgement is questionable. She was once quoted by the El Paso Times as saying of convicted felon and former Judge Manny Barraza, "I have nothing to say but good things about Judge Barraza - he's much loved in the legal community here - and that's for his fairness."
If you recall, Judge Barraza is in prison for corruption charges alleging that Barraza traded favorable decisions for sex.
Oh yeah, and then there's the whole going-on-trial-for-her-courtroom-conduct-thing. An experienced judge who has served on the bench is far more qualified than I to assess the conduct of attorney. So I'll take Judge Smith's word for it when he was quoted by the local FOX affiliate on Caballero, "...the most egregious and disrespectful conduct by members of the Bar that I've ever seen in my 24 years of service as a Judge or in my 34 years in the practice of law."
That speaks volumes to me.
The biggest critique from many people of Caballero is that she is too political to be a judge. Her most recent mailer doesn't do anything to put those fears to rest. She's running for a position in a drug court yet incredibly her mailer focuses on the Downtown Baseball Stadium! Let me be clear...the position she is pursuing is NOT A POLICY MAKING POSITION and has absolutely ZERO to do with a baseball stadium.
Zip. Zilch. Nada.
County Commissioner Precinct #3 - Let me be clear. I like Chente. I've drank with him. His grandson is a buddy. I've drank more beers with him. Hell, I've drank with several members of the family. In fact, they thought I was a Gandara once. Funny story.
So its not personal, but if I had to vote in the precinct I'd be voting for Vince Perez. I honestly can not wrap my head around lower valley politicians complaining about "dirty politics". First of all...if ANYONE in the County has a well-earned reputation for dirty campaigning, its the valley. If you think I'm wrong you either don't know what you are talking about or are lying through your teeth. No part of the County plays more dirty than the valley.
In fact, if it weren't for Sunland Park, there wouldn't be a place that played dirtier within a few hundred miles. Don't believe me or are mad that I said that? Tough cookies. I've block-walked and spent more time observing lower valley politics than almost any of you reading this so don't get your panties in a wad.
What Perez has done has been 100% issue-based. Its not dirty. Dirty would be making unfounded, non-issue-based allegations. Perez has only gone after his opponents record. Thats not dirty.
In fact, there's a large and rather surprisingly large vulnerable area of Quintanilla's record that could be focused on and hasn't been. Quintanilla was included in a session wrap-up in Austin and was rated "furniture" by an Austin publication. Not once, but twice.
Essentially what they are saying is that Quintanilla didn't do anything while in the state legislature.
As a Chicano, I have a major issue with Quintanilla's record. He was 100% okay with UTEP ending a Cesar Chavez holiday. No self-respecting Chicano activist can ever be okay with a senior Latino legislator taking a position like that. At that point, I don't care if he speaks Spanish. If he's not going to speak up for us, what the hell is the point?
I hope that all the old-guard Chicano's remember that.
That part of the County has faced a cycle of failed leadership. Leadership that has failed to effectively advocate for that part of the County. Leadership that has failed to deliver.
Want an example? Think about this one for a few minutes. Have you ever seen the parks in the valley? There are dog parks in East El Paso that have better facilities, more grass, and better play equipment than parks for CHILDREN in the valley.
That isn't going to sit too well with any parent, even the ones that are pet owners. I'm sure everyone loves Fido, but every parent loves Junior more.
I think the Valley can do better that the leadership they have had. What the Valley needs are new names, new faces, and new blood. They need someone strong and capable of advocating for their community. I believe Vince Perez is that candidate.
If I were a voter in Precinct 3, I'd vote for Vince Perez.
By the way, shout out to Nick Ybarra:
Here is a list of people I'm supporting. You are free to vote for who you wish. I'm just telling you who I've voting for and what my reasons for supporting them are.
Judicial Races - Honestly, I'm undecided in a couple of them.
8th Court of Appeals - I'm still undecided. This race features Yvonne Rodriguez and Marcos Lizarraga. Both nice people. I know them both. I voted for Stanton because I felt he was the more qualified candidate in the primary. Still haven't made up my mind between the two.
448th District Court - Regina Arditti and Sergio Enriquez. Undecided. Sergio Enriquez really hasn't campaigned at all so I sort of want to vote for Arditti just because he didn't freakin' try.
41st District Court - I'm voting for Anna Perez. I think she's the most qualified candidate and she's clearly the only candidate that has paid her dues within the El Paso Democratic Party. I hate Johnny-Come-Lately's that are never around when the real work to be done is going on but show up at election time and all of a sudden they are Democrats. Integrity matters. Someone who is willing to be a party of the Party all the time, not just during election time shows what their values and beliefs are. I have nothing against Mr. Cervantes, but I just don't think he stacks up. Especially given the fact that I'm about to set the record straight on most of the allegations he lays out in his negative mailer. If he can't get those facts right, as a voter, it gives me reason to question his decision-making.
388th - Full disclosure, Laura Strathmann is my attorney. I chose her for a reason. She has my vote.
Criminal District Court Number 1 - This one is a slam dunk. Diana Navarrete is my choice. In my opinion, Caballero is not a good choice for a judicial candidate. And I'm not the only one that thinks that way. The El Paso Times wrote about Caballero, "Theresa Caballero, has a history of showing disrespect for the rule of law and there is a question if this defense attorney could ever be neutral. It would be dangerous to have Caballero on the bench."
I have to agree.
In my opinion, I think her judgement is questionable. She was once quoted by the El Paso Times as saying of convicted felon and former Judge Manny Barraza, "I have nothing to say but good things about Judge Barraza - he's much loved in the legal community here - and that's for his fairness."
If you recall, Judge Barraza is in prison for corruption charges alleging that Barraza traded favorable decisions for sex.
Oh yeah, and then there's the whole going-on-trial-for-her-courtroom-conduct-thing. An experienced judge who has served on the bench is far more qualified than I to assess the conduct of attorney. So I'll take Judge Smith's word for it when he was quoted by the local FOX affiliate on Caballero, "...the most egregious and disrespectful conduct by members of the Bar that I've ever seen in my 24 years of service as a Judge or in my 34 years in the practice of law."
That speaks volumes to me.
The biggest critique from many people of Caballero is that she is too political to be a judge. Her most recent mailer doesn't do anything to put those fears to rest. She's running for a position in a drug court yet incredibly her mailer focuses on the Downtown Baseball Stadium! Let me be clear...the position she is pursuing is NOT A POLICY MAKING POSITION and has absolutely ZERO to do with a baseball stadium.
Zip. Zilch. Nada.
County Commissioner Precinct #3 - Let me be clear. I like Chente. I've drank with him. His grandson is a buddy. I've drank more beers with him. Hell, I've drank with several members of the family. In fact, they thought I was a Gandara once. Funny story.
So its not personal, but if I had to vote in the precinct I'd be voting for Vince Perez. I honestly can not wrap my head around lower valley politicians complaining about "dirty politics". First of all...if ANYONE in the County has a well-earned reputation for dirty campaigning, its the valley. If you think I'm wrong you either don't know what you are talking about or are lying through your teeth. No part of the County plays more dirty than the valley.
In fact, if it weren't for Sunland Park, there wouldn't be a place that played dirtier within a few hundred miles. Don't believe me or are mad that I said that? Tough cookies. I've block-walked and spent more time observing lower valley politics than almost any of you reading this so don't get your panties in a wad.
What Perez has done has been 100% issue-based. Its not dirty. Dirty would be making unfounded, non-issue-based allegations. Perez has only gone after his opponents record. Thats not dirty.
In fact, there's a large and rather surprisingly large vulnerable area of Quintanilla's record that could be focused on and hasn't been. Quintanilla was included in a session wrap-up in Austin and was rated "furniture" by an Austin publication. Not once, but twice.
Essentially what they are saying is that Quintanilla didn't do anything while in the state legislature.
As a Chicano, I have a major issue with Quintanilla's record. He was 100% okay with UTEP ending a Cesar Chavez holiday. No self-respecting Chicano activist can ever be okay with a senior Latino legislator taking a position like that. At that point, I don't care if he speaks Spanish. If he's not going to speak up for us, what the hell is the point?
I hope that all the old-guard Chicano's remember that.
That part of the County has faced a cycle of failed leadership. Leadership that has failed to effectively advocate for that part of the County. Leadership that has failed to deliver.
Want an example? Think about this one for a few minutes. Have you ever seen the parks in the valley? There are dog parks in East El Paso that have better facilities, more grass, and better play equipment than parks for CHILDREN in the valley.
That isn't going to sit too well with any parent, even the ones that are pet owners. I'm sure everyone loves Fido, but every parent loves Junior more.
I think the Valley can do better that the leadership they have had. What the Valley needs are new names, new faces, and new blood. They need someone strong and capable of advocating for their community. I believe Vince Perez is that candidate.
If I were a voter in Precinct 3, I'd vote for Vince Perez.
By the way, shout out to Nick Ybarra:
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